First Week of School

The first week of school is over. I am happy to see it go. I had forgotten how hectic the first week is. Each child brings home a supply list from each teacher. Keep in mind I have 4 kids in the upper grades who have 6 classes each, so you can imagine the magnitude. Not every list comes home on the first day, they sort of trickled in all week long. Some teachers ask for a separate binder for that class to keep in the classroom. Some ask for colored pencils, some markers. Some want notebooks, some want loose-leaf paper. Some want folders, some subject dividers. Of course the Spanish teacher wants a Spanish dictionary. They all want pencils, but some want pens in specific colors. Some want those large pink erasers. So off we go to find the various supplies. WalMart was out of pink erasers and markers. K-Mart was out of subject dividers and #2 pencils. Every store's school supply section looked like many small bombs had gone off. The aisles are full of parents that look like they just want to grab and get out quick. The employees all have glazed looks in their eyes from having had to deal with rushed parents and a school supply section that has been getting less and less functional since it started back in May.
The kids also bring a rules sheet and parent contact info. sheet from each class that the student and parent each have to read, sign and return. And then there's the packet with the health form and the field trip permission slip and the media permission form and the privacy protection form.....Are you starting to get the picture?
But, we survived the first week, and everyone's home for the weekend now. As I listen to the fighting and screaming going on as I type this, I am wondering if I always think "the grass looks greener" or am I really missing that hectic first week of school already? Monday will be here soon....Monday will be here soon....